An Engagement Watch and Wedding Beer

I Think Men Should Wear Engagement Jewelry Too
I bought Matt an engagement watch which he wears all the time now- le swoon! I did this because 1) I felt kind of cheesy getting a big fabulous gift and not getting him anything and 2) (and this is probably supposed to be the more important driving force) I like us being in this together- this engagement bit. It never made sense to me that just a woman would wear a ring to say “hey! I’m off the shelf, lads. On to the next.” and her man would just walk around like nothing has changed (except his checking or saving account has dwindled). But at the same time, I didn’t like the idea that once we were married, Matt would have to wear a stack of rings on his finger (love the stacked look on the ladies, and sometimes on Keith Richards, but generally I don’t like bejeweled man hands). So I thought, “what is round and manly and can be worn everyday – apart from from a diadem? Why a watch, of course!” (Now that I’m thinking about it, Matt might have preferred the diadem but those are much harder to find these days).

I know about as much about watches as I do about rings. So I made a blind-ish stab in the dark. I knew he wanted something metal and rectangular, and I wanted something more James Bond than Inspector Gadget. So I found this (see photo above) Jacques Lemans watch. Voila! Now we both have things that say “we’re engaged!” Or at least mine does and his says the time . and glows in the dark, and is scratch resistant sapphire, and probably will do the dishes for you if you ask it.

What do you guys think about this idea? I know an engagement ring is placed on the left hand fourth finger because supposedly there is a vein that leads to your heart (don’t all your fingers?), but the watch has got the whole darned artery covered. Watch 1, ring 0.

Also, wouldn’t it be nice to have a new tradition that couples can do if like Carrie Bradshaw and my friend Dexin, you don’t wear rings. And once we get it together and legalize gay marriage, we can have men getting down on one knee and opening a watch box in front of their beloved at fancy restaurants everywhere. How could we not want more of that? How could Rolex and Omega not want more of that?

I’m Not Alone on Working on Wedding Stuffs
Thank gawd! I don’t see this wedding shindig as just “my day” and all about “me, me, me.” I think it’s definitely about Matt and I, and it’s also about our families getting to share this day with us with our teeny ceremony. I’m so magnanimous aren’t I? Muahahaha! Little do they know that I’m sharing “my day” because that way, I don’t have to do all the work for it <again, cue evil cackling>. No, seriously, I don’t think it’s just about me, AND I’m also uber excited not to be doing all the work.

In addition to organizing the paperwork and honeymoon plans, Matt (with the help of his wonderful brother) are brewing us our very own wedding beer! Huzzah! I worked up a beer label last night (see above). It’s a work-in-progress, but squint your eyes and imagine it wrapped around a deliciously cold brown bottle. Yum! Go, Crane brothers! (p.s. Crane might or might not be my new last name soon- I can’t decide! More on that later). Beer!

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This weekend Cath and I have a full schedule of dim summing (Happy Chinese New Year) and superbowling, but I might fit in some more wedding plans. Step #1, figure out plans because wedding is less than two months away.

This is something I’ve thought about often and you’ve found such an elegant solution. The watch is super sophisticated and very manly luxe if that’s a label. I even struggle with the concept of engagement rings myself and think why couldn’t we just spend that insane amount of money on something else just as meaningful without all the yucky historical connotations?

I love the idea! and in all fairness, it would be nice for a guy to get something too! Love the fancy schmanchy watch and wedding details. Whens the wedding again? i might have missed when you said it would be but it all seems to be happening soo quickly!

Wedding watches/engagement watches= brilliant. I love that both of them are out of the norm. Your ring = cruelty free, and recycled, AND ETSY. His watch = no one does it. Period.

Wedding beer labels, this is brilliant to the nth degree, but to brew your own? That’s classy. I know someone who proposed to his girlfriend with a special bottle of wine and a self designed wine label.

It’s very you, all of it. And I’m so happy for you as much as I am impressed!

you know what’s funny?? when me and my hubby got engaged, my friend saw us both and asked where my hubby’s engagement ring was. i don’t know how she didn’t know that guys don’t get anything for engagement but it got me thinking, they should prob wear something too so other ppl can tell they are taken right?!?!

Most of the ladies commented about the watch, but I’m here to comment on the homebrewed beer! haha. My boyf was the best man at a wedding this past September and we brewed 2 brews for their big day. The beers were a hit, but they did have a wine and a good bar to accompany the homebrew. That was our gift to the bride and groom. 🙂 We didn’t bottle the beer though, we had it on tap (we have a portable rig).

Hi! It’s Katy from ASC. Long time, I know. anyway. I saw a facebook post and decided to check out the blog. So funny– I got engaged in November, and had the idea of an engagement watch for my fiance last week. I’m waiting to go to Europe to find one. most things here are fake, but the idea hit me, maybe 4 or 5 days ago. Then I come here and am shocked. Awesome.

I love this one. I’m trying to figure out what kind Y would like. we’ll see.

Who We Are

We are Cath and Lar, two identical twins living in Atlanta and Seattle. We aren’t minimalist, but we do want to learn to live with less stuff. For the past five years, we’ve been whittling down the amount of things we own, and as we continue on this journey, we’d love for you to join us!